JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - North Florida women's basketball opens its ASUN slate with a contest at crosstown rival, Jacksonville, on Saturday in the first game of the River City Rumble series.
GAME DAY CENTRAL
WHAT: North Florida (7-8) at Jacksonville (11-4)
WHERE: Swisher Gymnasium
WHEN: Saturday, Jan. 7 - 1 p.m.
THE SERIES: Jacksonville leads 16-8
LAST TIME: Jacksonville defeated UNF, 65-51 on the Dolphins' home court on February 27, 2016...
Claire Ioannidis scored 19 points in the loss, while former player
Kadesia Johnson grabbed a team-high seven rebounds ... JU led from start to finish, but UNF got close as it was down just 30-27 at halftime.
FOLLOWING THE ACTION
LIVESTATS: JUDolphins.com
TWITTER: @OspreyWBB
TV: Watch ESPN
ABOUT NORTH FLORIDA (7-8 / 0-0 ASUN)
Roster |
Schedule |
Statistics |
Game Notes
ABOUT JACKSONVILLE (11-4 / 0-0 ASUN)
Roster |
Schedule |
Statistics |
Preview
LAST TIME OUT...
- North Florida snapped a four-game losing streak with a victory against Warner on New Year's Eve. The Ospreys defeated the Royals 72-44 with four players reaching double digits led by
Sierra Shepherd's 14.
- Jacksonville completed a tournament sweep at the Best Western Osprey New Year Classic with a 66-60 win against Wofford. The Dolphins led for the entire first half and the Terriers taking the lead for most of the second until JU worked through the final minute to force a pair of turnovers and seal the victory.
NOTABLE
- The seven victories in the non-conference season match last year's total wins for the season. The Ospreys finished the ASUN season 3-11 in 2016.
- This is the fourth time since joining the ASUN that North Florida starts its conference season on the road and the Ospreys are 0-4 in those games.
- This is the third time in Division I history that UNF has opened ASUN against Jacksonville. Last season, JU won at UNF to start league play.
- When UNF scores 70 or more points it is 10-1 under Coach Gibbs and 6-0 this season with 70+.
- Defensively, the Ospreys have also excelled in getting blocked shots this season. They have recorded four or more blocks in seven of 12 games played this season.
- After nine consecutive double-digit scoring games to start the year,
Claire Ioannidis' streak was broken at Bethune-Cookman. She came back and scored 11 at FSU.
- North Florida is 7-0 when leading at the half and 9-1 under coach Gibbs.
-The Ospreys return 84% of their scoring from 2015-16.
AN OSPREY WIN ON SATURDAY WOULD...
- Be the 327th win in program history
- Be Head Coach Gibbs 15th win
- Be the first time to open ASUN play with a win since 2013
- Be the first win against JU since February 16, 2013
- Be the first win at Jacksonville since February 25, 2012
ON THIS DAY
The Ospreys are 6-3 on January 7, but are 0-3 in recent years, last playing in 2013 at FGCU. Jacksonville and UNF have never met on this date.
LONG RANGE STREAKING
The Ospreys have made at least one 3-pointer in 47 consecutive games dating back to 2/25/15 when FGCU held them without a longball (0-8).
GET THE DISHES
Junior
Sierra Shepherd's 54 total assists are third in the ASUN this season and rank in the top-75 nationally. The Jacksonville, Fla. native has dished out multiple dimes in 13 of 15 games played so far this season.
FREE FOR ALL
North Florida features five players shooting more than 70.0 percent from the free throw line. Ioannidis leads the conference at 94.4 percent, which ranks her among the top-10 in the nation.
UP NEXT
North Florida heads north to continue ASUN play as it takes on NJIT at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 14. The Ospreys then trek to USC Upstate for a rematch of the ASUN Quarterfinal game on Monday at 7 p.m. in Spartanburg.
